As one of the former Apartheid states Rhodesia
now Zimbabwe still suffers from the aftermath although white rule ended
in 1980. An unresolved issue is the ownership and use of land. After two
decades of rule, former guerilla leader Robert Mugabe has lost all international
credit. Zimbabwe has in the past few years experienced a mass exodus of
its population because of its political and economic problems. Estimates
put the number of Zimbabweans who have sought a better life elsewhere at
as many as 3.5 million, or more than 20 percent of the population.

General
information on the radio systemShortwave broadcasting started from a
site near Salisbury (now Harare), but during the sixties two 100 kW transmitters
were installed at Guinea Fowl and the Salisbury transmitters were relocated
there. A 100 kW medium wave transmitter was installed in 1966 and was used
among other things, to broadcast propaganda to Mozambique during the civil
war. There was also a 2 kW transmitter carrying the General Service of
the Rhodesia Broadcasting Corporation that had been installed in
the fifties. In order to restrict the influence of international broadcasting,
Rhodesia like South Africa introduced nationwide FM coverage at a very
early stage.In the early 1990s, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting
Corporation broadcast on FM only, and for example Radio Moscow closed its
international broadcasting services in Shona and Ndebele. With new transmitters
inaugurated in December 1994 nowadays two of the four national channels
are also broadcast on short wave to rural areas.There are no existing independent broadcasters
operating from within Zimbabwe, owing to tight government control of the
media. Before the July 2000 elections in Zimbabwe, the Mugabe Government
did not follow court orders to end its grip on the Zimbabwe Broadcasting
Corporation and allow that dissenting voices were also heard on the station's
channels. The ruling Zanu PF even called for the banning of songs deemed
derogatory to the party.In February 2004 international listeners
reported that before every hour and half-hour, all four ZBC radio stations
played a song in praise of the government‘s land reform programme, which
ended with the slogan "Our land is our prosperity". The government media's
timidity in demanding accountability from the ruling party leadership when
they publicly make potentially harmful pronouncements was exposed by the
manner in which they handled President Robert Mugabe's closing address
at the Fourth ZANU PF National Youth Congress. According to the Media Monitoring
Project Zimbabwe's newsletter, "These media merely carried President Mugabe's
speech without analysing it. For instance, The Sunday Mail quoted President
Mugabe telling his party youths that they should 'mount a vigorous campaign
across the country to push Tony Blair's midgets out' as ZANU PF 'wanted
to teach them a lesson across the whole country that Zimbabwe will never
be a colony again'. No attempt was made to disentangle the embedded meaning
of such statements." (www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=23305)In April 2004 the ZBC became Zimbabwe
Broadcasting Holdings. Its four stations were renamed and redesigned to
operate on a commercial basis.More information on ZBC can be found on
their website, parts of which have not been updated since 2001 <www.zbc.co.zw/index.cfm>.

News 24

In April 2007, Zimbabwe's
Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu announced that the country's new
international SW radio station, News24, would start broadcasting before
independence celebrations on April 18. The new radio station from Gweru
would be available to audiences both in and outside Zimbabwe. "There will
be a revolutionary development in the media. We should be able to tell
our own story," Ndlovu is quoted as saying. The Herald says the government
is spending US$35 million on the project.www.southgatearc.org/news/april2007/news24.htmNone of the press about it has ever mentioned
frequencies. If News 24 actually starts on additional frequencies,
that will mean fewer transmitters available for jamming SWRA and other
opposition transmissions.

It is no coincidence that there is a pile-up
of opposition broadcasts at the same hour, not only since it is prime evening
time, but to strain the jamming resources. The jamming is very effective
and the only practical counter measure is to use more channels than "Bob's
Fire Dragon" can manage to jam.

Media rights recordJust in time for
the meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Council in September and October 2006,
Freedom House released its annual report of the world's most repressive
regimes. (www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=70&release=409) Nine
countries are listed as being serious violators of human rights, among
them Zimbabwe. Freedom House says that "while these states scored slightly
better than the 'worst of the worst,' they offer very limited scope for
private discussion while severely suppressing opposition political activity,
impeding independent organising, and censoring or punishing criticism of
the state." Freedom House says it hopes the report will focus the U.N.
Human Rights Council's attention on countries and territories that deserve
investigation and condemnation for their widespread violations. The Council
includes among its 47 members three countries profiled in "The Worst of
the Worst": China, Cuba and Saudi Arabia. In June 2006, the Council replaced
the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, which had been heavily criticised
by human rights groups for allowing repressive regimes to gain influence
over the monitoring body.

International
broadcastingToday, many Zimbabweans have turned to
foreign-based radio stations for an alternative to the government-controlled
radio and television stations. Most major international radio stations
broadcast in English to Southern Africa, but there is very little
broadcasting in the major African languages to Zimbabwe: Beside Christian
evangelical broadcasts from FEBA Radio and
Trans
World Radio Swaziland,
Radio Cairo
in Egypt broadcasts in Shona and Ndebele to Zimbabwe.In late July 2001, the Mugabe government
withdrew the accreditation for BBC journalists because of the contents
of BBC reporting on Zimbabwe. The country's information minister accused
BBC of unethical and unprofessional conduct, citing its coverage of a recent
speech by Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe. The BBC says it was disappointed
by the decision. The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists also criticized the
decision to suspend accreditation, calling it an attempt to control the
media before the presidential election. [VoA Communications World 28 July
2001]A turning point which sparked special
broadcasting to the country were the July 2000 general elections. Voice
of America broadcast a daily special 30-minute »Zimbabwe forum«
in June and July 2000 and finally started a regular special programme designed
for Zimbabwe. On 14 June 2000 a »Voice
of the People« staffed by former ZBC employees started broadcasting
in Shona and Ndebele to Zimbabwe and continued doing so after the elections.
On 19 December 2001 UK-based Short Wave Radio Africa
started broadcasting to Zimbabwe via short wave and the Internet. The Zimbabwe
government is clearly worried by the continuing presence of Voice of the
People and SW Radio Africa. In the following years, government official
repeatedly launched complaints with other governments to silence Netherlands-backed
Voice of the People, VOA-affiliated Studio 7 and London-based Short Wave
Radio Africa. Today, Zimbabwe is jamming some broadcasts from stations
they consider hostile to the Mugabe regime. Thus the Mugabe government
is repeating a habit of the Apartheid regime it had toppled. Leading up
to Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence in November 1965,
some broadcasts from the BBC Southern Africa relay station in Botswana
were jammed.

February 2007 Jamming officially confirmedA senior official in Zimbabwe has confirmed
that President Robert Mugabe's government is jamming foreign radio broadcasts
into the country, reports on Thursday said.The Zimbabwe government is jamming the
signal of Voice of America's Studio 7 programme, which broadcasts news
and information into Zimbabwe most evenings, deputy Information Minister
Bright Matonga was quoted as saying."We cannot allow foreigners to invade
our airwaves without our authority," Matonga told parliament, according
to quotes carried by the official Herald newspaper. It was the first official
confirmation of the practice, which has been condemned by press freedom
groups.Matonga was responding to a question from
opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) legislator Willas Madzimure
in parliament Wednesday on why the authorities were jamming Studio 7's
shortwave broadcasts, when most areas of the country cannot receive any
local radio or television signal.Only around 30 per cent of areas in the
southern African country can receive any signal from the four state-controlled
radio stations and its sole television station.The Zimbabwe government is believed to
be using Chinese equipment to jam the signals of at least three private
radio stations that broadcast into Zimbabwe. Studio 7, which is based in
Washington, started to experience interference with its signal last year.
Another two stations, London- based SW Radio Africa and Voice of the People
have also had their signals jammed.<http://jurnalo.com/jurnalo/storyPage.do?story_id=20616>

June and July 2000Voice of America
broadcast a daily special 30-minute »Zimbabwe
forum« in June and July 2000. The English language programmes
were funded by the Soros Foundation.January 2003In line with earlier
practice, the Voice of America established a new programme to Zimbabwe
on 29 January 2003. Originally in English, the half hour programme was
joined by another half hour in Shona and Ndebele in April 2003. Along with
the latest news, Studio 7
features analysis, interviews with newsmakers, and political, social, health,
sports matters, and Zimbabwean local music. The eleven member team includes
prominent Zimbabwean journalist Ray Choto who used to be with "the Standard"
newspaper in the capital Harare. The main frequency is 909 kHz mediumwave,
but the programme is also transmitted on shortwave. Studio 7 is funded
through a grant from the US Agency for International Development (USAID),
and is produced and managed by VOA's Africa Division.July 2003In July 2003, Zimbabwean
Minister of Information, Professor Jonathan Moyo, accused the United States
of intensifying its hostility towards Zimbabwe. Referring to the programme
Studio 7 as a station, Moyo said the US government was sowing seeds of
division among people in rural areas. Professor Moyo was speaking as he
received an Iranian delegation on a five-day working visit to assist in
the revamping of the TV and FM transmitters of the state-run Zimbabwe Broadcasting
Corporation. Areas such as Victoria Falls and Kariba which have poor reception
should be given priority as they were exposed to hostile broadcasting by
the British and Americans, according to the Minister. The Iranian Government
certainly understood the message although Studio 7 is nothing like the
24 hour Farsi programme of US external service Radio Farda beamed on satellite
and several medium wave frequencies to Iran.February 2005In a press release
on 14 February 2005, Voice of America announced a half-hour morning broadcast
of Studio 7. Beginning 21 February 2005, the broadcasts would air
Monday through Friday 0330-0400 UTC (5.30-6.00 in Zimbabwe). "With the
March elections approaching, the people of Zimbabwe need more access to
objective news and information," said VOA Director David S. Jackson. "This
new broadcast from the Voice of America will give them the news they need
in the morning as well as at night." The new English-language programme
can be heard in Zimbabwe and in southern Africa on 909 kHz on medium wave
and on 4930 kHz and 6080 kHz short wave. The evening programme is on the
air daily at 1700-1800 UTC (19.00-20.00 in Zimbabwe) in Shona and
Ndebele and English (17.30) on medium wave 909 kHz and short wave.Given the virtual
exclusion of dissenting voices in the state media, Studio 7 provided extensive
and balanced coverage of the 2005 general election - interviews with ruling
ZANU-PF and opposition candidates in many constituencies were aired back-to-back.
Reporter Carole Gombakomba’s telephone interviews with victims of the government’s
May-July 2005 campaign of forced evictions and home demolitions received
a 2006 commendation from the Association of International Broadcasting.November 2005Beginning in November
2005, Studio 7 changed to a new evening lineup in response to listener
requests for increased broadcasts in the Shona and Ndebele languages. From
Monday through Friday, Studio 7 would provide daily 30-minute reports in
Shona at 1700 UTC, in English at 1730 and Ndebele at 1800, expanding the
broadcast from 60 to 90 minutes. According to VoA, Studio 7 has doubled
its audience since late 2003.June 2006On June 29, 2006
Voice of America Director David S. Jackson issued the following statement
concerning VOA broadcasts to Zimbabwe: "There has been some jamming of
our broadcasts of Studio 7, but so far the interference appears to be limited
to medium wave broadcasts to Harare, so many of our loyal listeners throughout
Zimbabwe have been able to hear our shows on shortwave and in other locations
of the country without any problem. We take any interference seriously,
however, and we will continue to monitor the situation." The Zimbabwean
government later acknowledged that it was jamming the programme. VOA's
Studio 7 is broadcast to Zimbabwe each Monday through Friday from 19.00-20.30
local time (1700-1830 UTC) in 30-minute segments in Shona, English and
Ndebele.www.voanews.com/english/About/2006-06-29-zimbabwe-jamming.cfmJanuary 2007Having jammed the medium wave of VoA Studio
7 for several months, Zimbabwe on January 16, 2007 started jamming one
of the three short wave frequencies of VoA Studio 7. The 'bagpipes
accompanied by a music box' proved extremely effective in jamming
the frequency.August 2007:
VOA’s Studio 7 for Zimbabwe expands programming to weekendsOn 18 August 2007, the Voice of America
expanded its broadcasts to Zimbabwe with the addition of one-hour programs
on Saturday and Sunday (17.00-18.00 h 909 kHz mediumwave from Botswana
and shortwave frequencies 4930, 13755 and 15775 kHz). The weekend programmes
consist of 20-minute segments in the indigenous Shona and Ndebele languages
as well as English. As during the week, the Saturday-Sunday programs will
pursue breaking or developing stories while presenting discussions on critical
topics including the continuing political and economic crisis, efforts
to mediate a solution to the crisis, intensifying shortages of food and
other essential goods, and efforts to stem a major HIV/AIDS pandemic. Studio
7 will add audience participation to the mix with callbacks to listeners
who would like to express their views on news topics, especially in the
run-up to the general and presidential elections to be held in March 2008
following local ballots in January.According to the VOA, Studio 7 for Zimbabwe
has posted strong audience growth through 2005 and 2006 to establish an
audience of more than 1 million listeners in the Southern African country.
Studio 7’sweb page, www.VOANews.com/english/africa/zimbabwe/, also offers
news in English, Shona and Ndebele, and recently launched e-mail newsletters
in all three languages.2008 David Burke Distinguished Journalism
Award for reports from ZimbabweOn 8 April 2008, the Broadcasting Board
of Governors (BBG) announced the winners of the 2008 David Burke Distinguished
Journalism Award. Named for former BBG Chairman David Burke, the award
recognizes courage, integrity, and originality in reporting by journalists
within the BBG broadcast organizations. Among the winners were freelance
reporter John Miller, who worked with VOA's Central News Division and a
Zimbabwean colleague, received the award for their series on life in Zimbabwe.
David Borgida, a Supervising Editor who nominated the journalists, said,
"The global audience had seen little of what has been going on [in Zimbabwe]
because the government controls what is seen and heard. This series provided
that rare glimpse into real life in Zimbabwe."

Voice
of the PeopleOn 14 June 2000, a »Voice
of the People« started broadcasting in Shona and Ndebele to
Zimbabwe. The station was founded by former employees of the state-owned
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation and originally funded by the Soros Foundation.
As no licences for private broadcasters have been issued in Zimbabwe, the
programmes were broadcast on short wave via the Radio Netherlands relay
station in Madagascar.In the aftermath of Robert Mugabe's
controversial victory in the country's general election, Voice of
the People launched a new web site and promised to continue operating.
Ever since, VOP employees have faced harassment and intimidation from Zimbabwean
authorities. On 4 July 2002 police searched the VOP offices for a transmitter,
broadcasting equipment, and other evidence that VOP was violating the Broadcasting
Services Act of 2001, which bars stations from broadcasting without a licence.
The police did not find a transmitter but confiscated tapes and files from
the office. On 29 August 2002, the VOP offices in Milton Park were bombed
by unidentified assailants in the middle of the night. The building was
demolished, though no staff members were harmed.On 27 January 2003 Voice of the People
introduced a new schedule, where it has remained ever since:03.30-04.27 h UTC cancelled.17.00-17.57 h UTC 7120 kHz Mondays-Fridays
onlyIn a series of attacks on the VOP, Zimbabwean
journalists Shorai Katiwa and Martin Chimenya were seized on 2 June 2003
by supporters of President Robert Mugabe's African National Union Patriotic
Front (ZANU-PF) who interrogated them, took away their mobile phones and
tape-recorders. Police went to the home of VOP coordinator John Masuku
and confiscated the station's office records and a computer used to feed
programms. Later the items were returned and the journalists freed.In early 2004, David Masunda, Assistant
Editor of the Zimbabwe Standard, became the new chairman of the independent
radio station, following the resignation of Dr Faith Ndebele and the death
of Professor Masipula Sithole. According to a statement from VOP, its new
board includes prominent human rights lawyer Arnold Tsunga as Vice Chairman,
and Isabella Matambanadzo, the executive director of the Zimbabwe Women's
Resource Centre and Network, as secretary. Broadcaster John Masuku is executive
director. Masunda said VOP was expanding operations and hoped to extend
its broadcasts with new and educative programmes on HIV/Aids, small-scale
enterprises, human rights and democracy.In summer 2005 Radio Voice of the People
opened its own website: www.vopradio.co.zw. The website is hosted in Zimbabwe.

"State sabotage"
of VOP’s broadcastsReacting to the systematic interference
of the Zimbabwean independent radio station Voice of the People since
18 September, Reporters Without Borders voiced outrage today at a campaign
to jam dissident radio broadcasts which the Zimbabwean authorities are
clearly orchestrating with Chinese help. The press freedom organisation
pointed out that this "state sabotage" of VOP comes three years after it
was the target of a still unsolved bombing in the heart of Harare."Robert Mugabe’s government has once again
shown that its policy is to systematically gag all independent news media,"
Reporters Without Borders said. "The use of Chinese technology in a totally
hypocritical and non-transparent fashion reveals the government’s iron
resolve to abolish freedom of opinion in Zimbabwe."The press freedom organisation added :
"We reiterate out belief that Zimbabwe’s progressive submission to the
dictatorship of a single view is being made possible by the incomprehensible
failure of the great African democracies to take a stand against this behaviour
by the Harare government."VOP beams a radio programme to Zimbabwe
every evening from 1700 to 1800 UTC on 11705 kHz via the Radio Netherlands
Madagascar relay station. Except for musical bridges, VoP broadcasts are
speech dominated. Most of the programmes is in African languages, but there
is usually at least one interview in English."Our signal is no longer as clear as it
is supposed to be," a VOP employee told Reporters Without Borders. "There
is a funny noise and this is affecting our evening programme. We can say
we are being jammed." The VOP staff suspect that the government is using
sophisticated jamming equipment imported from China. This hour of VOP programming
has offered the sole opportunity on shortwave for Zimbabwean listeners
to tune into to an alternative to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation
(ZBC) ever since deliberate jamming of the London-based exile station SW
Radio Africa began in February. SW Radio Africa is no longer able to broadcast
on the short wave. According to the information obtained by Reporters Without
Borders, VOP can now only be heard in the rural part of Matabelele Land,
an area not covered by Zimbabwe’s public radio station. This suggests that
the noise jamming VOP’s programmes is being broadcast by the Zimbabwean
authorities using the public radio station.Jamming, which violates international
regulations governing telecommunications, is standard practice in China,
especially the jamming of Tibetan radio stations and foreign radio stations
beaming programmes to the west of the country. Chinese experts have been
invited to give training in telecommunications and radio communications
to Zimbabwean technicians under economic and technical cooperation accords
signed between China and Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe’s already significant relations
with China have been stepped up even more as a result of its diplomatic
isolation, which culminated in its departure from the Commonwealth in 2003.(Radio Netherlands Media Network 10 November
2005)

December 2005
Zimbabwean security agents raid Voice of the PeopleOn 15 December 2005 Zimbabwean police
and intelligence agents raided the independent radio station Voice of the
People (VOP) in Beverly Court Building, Harare. According to local sources,
police arrived at the offices with a search warrant to look for broadcasting
and transmitting equipment. When staff members said there was no such equipment
in the offices, the police left and returned with a reworded warrant allowing
them to confiscate computers, other equipment, and files.Local VOP staffers produce programs on
a variety of community and political issues but do not broadcast directly
within Zimbabwe. Police confiscated equipment and documents and held VOP
staff members Maria Nyanyiwa, Nyasha Bosha and Kundai Mugwanda for questioning.
They also asked for John Masuku, the station manager who was away at the
time.Maria Nyanyiwa, Kundai Mugwanda and Nyasha
Bosha were told they would face charges under the Access to Information
and Protection of Privacy Act for allegedly practising without accreditation.
A further charge under the Broadcasting Act for allegedly operating an
illegal radio station without a licence would be added to the case. After
spending five days behind bars, the employees were released without charge
on 19 December. A High Court judge ordered their release because there
were no grounds to keep them in detention. In making the determination,
the Attorney General said the station's Executive Director and the board
were the ones who were supposed to be answerable.On the same day, VOP Director John Masuku
turned himself in at a Harare police station, along with VOP Chairman David
Masunda and lawyer Rangu Nyamurundira. He was detained. If found
guilty of broadcasting without a licence, Masuku would face a penalty of
up to two years in jail. He was later released on 4 million Zimbabwe dollars
bail. Masuku vowed to continue with the VOP radio station project saying
soon after the holidays they will be back at work. The police who had sealed
off their offices have since left the area. The transmissions from the
Radio Netherlands Madagascar relay station were kept on the air by repeating
material already broadcast.February 2006 US State Department
issues statement on VOP harrassmentThe United States is concerned about the
Zimbabwe government's decision to press charges against the trustees of
an independent radio station, Voice of the People, according to a February
3, 2006, State Department statement. "The government's action suggests
a new intimidation campaign against the press and human rights defenders,"
the statement said. "The United States calls upon the government of Zimbabwe
to respect the rights of its citizens to advance the cause of human rights
without fear of reprisal from the state and its agents," the statement
continued. Six board members of the Harare-based Voice of the People radio
station were charged recently with broadcasting without a licence and could
face up to two years in prison. One trustee, prominent human-rights advocate
Arnold Tsunga, reportedly might have received death threats. The Voice
of the People is one of a handful of independent news outlets in Zimbabwe,
where the media are controlled almost completely by the government.

December 2001SW Radio Africa
began
as a result of the Zimbabwe government's refusal to allow independent broadcasting,
which had earlier been given approval by the country's Supreme Court. While
the legal battle continued, the station was preliminarily set up in London.
Work began in November 2001 with eight ex Zimbabweans, all of whom have
been stripped of their Zimbabwean citizenship. The station stressed its
independent of any political parties and promised "balanced and in-depth
news coverage; a comprehensive look at current affairs and social issues
(especially HIV, health and voter education); interactive discussions and
debates; entertainment, music, arts and culture".On 19 December 2001
SW Radio Africa started broadcasting to Zimbabwe via short wave
and the Internet. The sign on of the station also received media attention
in the UK and Europe in early 2002, as both the European Union and the
Commonwealth expressed concern about the human rights situation in Zimbabwe
and later introduced sanctions. According to early observations of
South African listener Vashek Korinek, "the quality of the signal is perfect
and the whole operation is absolutely professional, i.e. the programmes
must be made by skilled personnel and journalists in a top quality studios."
(30 December 2001)SW Radio Africa also operated in a Harare
hotel until it was shut down in 2002. Information minister Jonathan Moyo
warned the station's Zimbabwean staffers who relocated to London they would
be arrested when they return home.

The station has an extensive website at
www.swradioafrica.com including live streaming, broadcast archives
and comments from listeners in Zimbabwe.The station did not say where the transmitters
are located, but transmissions were obviously coming from South Africa.
On 23 February 2005, SW Radio Africa added a morning broadcast on medium
and short wave. Although sites were not disclosed, the medium wave station
is based in Lesotho. This transmitter normally reaches the Zimbabwean diaspora
in South Africa, and listeners inside Zimbabwe near the southern border.

March 2005 jammingWith less than four weeks to go until
Zimbabwe's General Elections on 31 March, SW Radio
Africa reported jamming against its transmissions and increased its number
of frequencies to circumvent it. First heard on 7 March, a harsh co-channel
modulated signal was heard on 6145 kHz. At first, the morning transmission
was not interfered with. As SW Radio Africa increased the number of frequencies
to evade the harmful interference, so jamming increased.The Media Monitoring
Project Zimbabwe, a Harare-based independent watchdog, said the jamming
of SW Radio Africa's broadcasts was carried out from Thornhill airbase
- located outside the southwestern town of Gweru, between Harare and Bulawayo
- where the government has a transmission station. According to the International
Broadcasting Bureau, a US federal government entity, the equipment used
for the jamming came from China, which has close trade links with Zimbabwe,
especially in the telecommunications domain.In a letter to the
Geneva-based International Telecommunication Union, the press freedom organization
Reporters Without Borders asked this UN system body "to seriously examine
this situation, which constitutes a grave violation of Harare's undertakings
towards the United Nations." The letter urged ITU secretary-general Yoshio
Utsumi "to demand official and credible explanations from Zimbabwe, which
is a member state of the ITU since 18 February 1981 and, as such, obliged
to conform to the provisions of its constitution, conventions and administrative
regulations." Reporters Without Borders added : "Thanks to support from
China, which exports its repressive expertise, Robert Mugabe's government
has yet again just proved itself to be one of the most active predators
of press freedom. Although in the middle of an electoral campaign, Zimbabwe
has not only flouted the Southern African Development Community's democratic
principles, it is now also displaying open contempt for its undertakings
towards the ITU and the UN conventions it has signed." ITU regulation 1.166
defines interference as : "The effect of unwanted energy due to one or
a combination of emissions, radiations, or inductions upon reception in
a radiocommunication system, manifested by any performance degradation,
misinterpretation, or loss of information which could be extracted in the
absence of such unwanted energy." Article 1003 of the annex of the ITU
constitution defines "harmful interference" as one that "obstructs or repeatedly
interrupts a radiocommunication service."

May 2005In recognition of
its efforts to give a voice to the voiceless in Zimbabwe, SW Radio Africa,
was awarded the International Press Institute's 2005 Free Media Pioneer
Award. The station was praised as a rare and independent source of information
for the listeners in Zimbabwe and half a million Zimbabwean exiles in London.
SW Radio Africa's main aim is to give a "voice to the voiceless" by fostering
a dialogue with its Zimbabwean audience, who call in - often at great risk
- to air their opinions and give first-hand accounts of the situation
in the country. The Free Media Pioneer Award is given annually to individuals
or organisations that have fought against great odds to ensure freer and
more independent media in their country or region. The award is co-sponsored
by Freedom Forum.At the International
Press Institute World Congress and Annual General Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya,
21-24 May 2005, the founder of SW Africa Gerry Jackson received the 2005
Free Media Pioneer Award from IPI Chairman Wilfred Kiboro, IPI Director
Johann P Fritz and Chris Wells from the Freedom Forum.In her acceptance
speech, Jackson said, "There is no end to the repression of the people
of Zimbabwe," and it should be remembered "regimes only win if you allow
them." On the question of financing, Jackson called on the international
community not to allow the radio station to die saying it was important
that the Zimbabwean people have a voice. After the ceremony, Johann P Fritz
said, "At a time when the local independent media are being decimated by
the actions of President Robert Mugabe's government, SW Radio Africa is
a lone voice offering a mix of news, interviews and music. Forced to broadcast
from the United Kingdom the station is bringing to news to a country whose
government is slowly having the life strangled out of its independent media.”
He also announced that SW Radio Africa would have to close in the
next few weeks due to lack of funding.

July 2005
end of short wave broadcastsFinally Zimbabwe’s
jamming paid off. On 31 Max 2005, Station Manager Gerry Jackson cited increased
costs for the frequency usage and decreased funds: „Due to the jamming
we have to broadcast on multiple frequencies and this hugely increases
our costs. We also no longer have the financial support as before. As from
1st June we will be on medium wave in the early morning and the internet
only - but our entire future remains very shaky. Medium wave is only received
over about half of Zimbabwe but we think our main audience will now be
the 2m plus Zim exiles in South Africa, where our signal is clearly received."

SW Radio Africa
saved from closureThe Station Manager
of SW Radio Africa, Gerry Jackson, has sent out a press release stating
that the station has been saved from closure. SW Radio Africa will therefore
be able to continue broadcasting on mediumwave 1197 kHz from 0300-0500
UTC every morning. This signal is heard throughout South Africa and over
most of Zimbabwe. Programming can also be accessed worldwide, 24 hours
a day, at www.swradioafrica.com where the broadcasts are streamed live
and also archived.Gerry Jackson adds
that, due to the relentless jamming of the shortwave signal by the
Zimbabwe government, the station is unable to provide a shortwave
service at the moment.SW Radio Africa
is also experimenting with Podcasting. To hear the station this way, download
ipodder, open the application and in the box 'Add feed manually'
paste this address: www.2bctnd.com/swradioafrica/rss.xml.November 2005
SW Radio Africa journalist wins international awardViolet Gonda, a
journalist with SW Radio Africa, has won an international award for her
radio documentary 'Arise! Zimbabwean Women speak out', portraying the experiences
of Zimbabwean women who repeatedly defy the brutal regime of President
Robert Mugabe despite beatings, rapes and imprisonment. The International
Association of Women in Radio and Television presented the award on Tuesday
at the IAWRT Radio Awards banquet.Ms Gonda, living
in exile in London, broadcasts eyewitness reports from people calling in
on mobile phones, from police stations, hospitals and courtrooms on SW
Radio Africa – and broadcasts back into Zimbabwe. She has been banned from
returning to her country, and Zimbabweans risk their lives to call in and
listen to the programme. (Radio Netherlands Media Network 3 November
2005)March 2006
return to short waveHaving experienced technical problems
with its medium wave outlet SW Radio Africa quietly returned to short wave
in mid March and followed its old schedulemid-March 200603.00-05.00: 3230 (Meyerton 100 kW, 5°)19.00-21.00: 3230 (Meyerton 100 kW, 0°)July 2006 SW Radio Africa appeals for
international support over jammingGerry Jackson, Station Manager of London-based
SW Radio Africa that broadcasts to Zimbabwe, has issued the following press
release:“Our morning mediumwave broadcasts [0300-0500
UTC on 1197 kHz] have been jammed since Monday 26th June 2006. The jamming
appears to be quite localised and focused on Harare. We can still be heard
in other parts of the country. This seems to follow the same pattern and
began at the same time as the jamming of VOA’s Studio 7 broadcasts on mediumwave
in the evening.The authorities jammed our shortwave broadcasts
last year, ahead of parliamentary elections and the devastating Operation
Murambatsvina that left nearly a million Zimbabweans homeless and with
no way to earn a living. At that time we ascertained the jamming was done
with the help of Chinese equipment and assistance. We have no reason to
assume that this latest jamming is any different.We strongly protest this further attack
attempting, once again, to deny Zimbabweans the right to freedom of speech
and freedom of information. We urge the international community to take
this most seriously.” (Radio Netherlands Media Network 4 July 2006)April 2007 increased use of short waveOn 18 April 2007, "SW Radio Africa, Zimbabwe's
independent voice" (www.swradioafrica.com) launched a massive use of short
wave frequencies to strain Zimbabwe's jamming resources. This step-up in
SWRA transmissions on short notice also eclipsed the much- publicized "News
24" external SW service the Mugabe regime was to start on that dayThe station now used four to five frequencies:17.00-19.00: 4880 (Meyerton, RSA, 100
kW, 5°), 11775 (Moscow, Russia, 250 kW 190°), 11810 (Armavir,
Russia, 300 kW 188°), 12035 (Rampisham, UK), testing 11975 (Kvitsoy,
Norway?)The use of European relay sites brought
better coverage of the whole African continent where governments have been
reluctant to criticize or even condemn Zimbabwe's government. It also meant
audibility in Europe and other parts of the world. Unfortunately, feeding
the programme to the different broadcasting sites also proved difficult.April 2007 SABC not clear on why access
to SW Radio Africa website is restrictedhttp://www.swradioafrica.com/news230407/sabc230407.htmBy Tererai Karimakwenda 23 April, 2007Last week we reported that computers at
the South Africa Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) were denying journalists
access to SW Radio Africa's website. A search for our web address returns
a message that says "Access to the requested URL has been denied by SABC
Policy."Several staff members at SABC verified
this last Friday and the head of television news, Amrat Manga, told us
he was not aware of the policy but would investigate. A trial done by our
web master also showed that it is our domain name that is being blocked.On Monday we talked to Fakir Hassen who
works in the IT division and he confirmed that SABC has what he called
"control measures" in place that restrict access to pornography, downloading
large files and audiostreaming. He stressed that it had nothing
to do with censuring any radio station. Regarding written stories Hassen
said: "There is no problem in accessing a website that is purely word in
content, if you will.. When it comes to audio downloads etcetera, there
are restrictions there."But when we asked several employees at
SABC, in different departments, to try and access some websites that have
audio streaming, they told us the sites opened without a problem and allowed
them to read the text. It is when they wanted to open the streaming that
they were blocked. Among the sites tested were South Africa's Radio 702,
Radio Veritas, Afrosounds FM and several websites that cover Zimbabwe.
This indicated that there is a different reason for the blocking of our
website. It is not just the audio streaming that is blocked but the entire
site, so not even the text can be read. Asked to comment on this Hassen
said: "We are not sure exactly what is going on. The guys in that department
are not available. Let's wait for the experts to let us know."SW Radio Africa will continue to investigate
this issue to determine exactly what is going on.SABC has recently been highly criticised
for a blacklist that came to light which included Zimbabwe's Archbishop
Pius Ncube, publisher Trevor Ncube and human rights activist Elinor Sisulu.
SABC journalists were banned from interviewing them in any stories on Zimbabwe.
An interview with outspoken Archbishop Pius Ncube was also edited out of
a television story by the head of SABC news.

Zimbabwe: Media
Freedoms Pre-Requesite for Free ElectionsGiven the current media environment in
Zimbabwe, free and fair elections in March 2005 are highly unlikely, a
fact finding mission to Zimbabwe said in a report released by the Media
Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) on 4 August 2004. During the week starting
21 June 2004, MISA sent a fact finding mission to Zimbabwe to look into
the state of the media in the run up to the Parliamentary elections planned
for March 2005. The members of this mission were Ms Pamela Dube, Editor
of Mokgosi Newspaper in Botswana, Mr Fernando Gonçalves, Editor
of Savana Newspaper in Mozambique and Zambian Media Law expert Patrick
Matibini.Further details: www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=23768

New media clampdown
in ZimbabweIn November 2004, parliament passed the
AIPPA Amendment Act as one in a series of draconian measures adopted in
advance of general elections scheduled for March. The act stiffens the
2002 law known as the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act
(AIPPA), which has already been used to shutter Zimbabwe's only independent
daily newspaper, the Daily News. The original Access to Information and
Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) bars foreign journalists from working
in the country on a permanent basis. It stipulates that only local reporters
licensed by a state-approved media commission can operate. Foreign media
houses operating in Zimbabwe thus relied on local journalists. Now it is
mandatory for journalists to register with the state appointed Media and
Information Commission (MIC). Journalists who fail to do so, could face
up to two years in prison, a fine of Zim $200,000 (USD 35.50), or both.
Critics said the measures are intended to intimidate the last vestiges
of the independent press. Two independent weekly newspapers still operate
in Zimbabwe, and some local correspondents work for foreign news agencies.
The AIPPA Amendment Act, took effect on January 7, after being signed by
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe.Commenting on the bill, Rashweat Mukundu,
acting national director of MISA Zimbabwe, told the UN Integrated Regional
Information Network (IRIN) on 10 November 2004 that the Amendment
Bill "added further repressive clauses to an already bad law". The official
Herald newspaper quoted Information and Publicity Minister of State Jonathan
Moyo as saying that the penalties stipulated in the amendment were not
unique to Zimbabwe "but was the norm worldwide", and that "irresponsible
journalism" could be used to undermine Zimbabwe's sovereignty.In a 2 December 2004 letter to President
Robert Mugabe, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed its outrage
over the government's continued clampdown on independent media in
Zimbabwe, includingproposed new legislation that could be
used to jail journalists for up to 20 years. At a time when several other
African countries are lifting criminal sanctions for press offences, bringing
their laws in line with international standards, Zimbabwe's government
is preparing to introduce penalties that are among the harshest on the
continent. Further details: www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=26009Other new legislation includes the Criminal
Law (Codification and Reform) Act, which could be used to jail journalists
for up to 20 years for publishing or communicating to any other person
"false" information deemed prejudicial to the state. The Criminal
Law (Codification and Reform) Act awaits Mugabe's signature.

The International Press Institute (IPI),
a global network of editors, journalists and media executives, has condemned
the intimidation and harassment by the Zimbabwean authorities that has
led to a foreign journalist fleeing to South Africa. According to information
provided to IPI, the Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa)correspondent for Zimbabwe, Jan Raath,
has been forced to leave the country after considerable pressure from the
police and out of fear he would be arrested. On 14 January, eight policemen
and two government officials raided the offices of Raath, where he worked
with a number of other foreign journalists. Over a period of two days,
police carried out an intensive search of the offices without the official
documentation proving they had legal authorization to carry out the search.Further details: www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=27031The repressive treatment of critics and
independent journalists left the country with no independent daily newspapers,
no private radio news coverage, and only two prominent independent weeklies.
Some 90 journalists had to leave the country, but find it hard to make
a
living in the competitive media markets abroad. According to the
Committee to Protect Journalists (www.cpj.org/Briefings/2005/DA_fall05/zim/zim_DA_fall05_2.html),
a few have secured jobs with international media outlets, but most make
ends meet by working in factories, service jobs or clerical positions.

Moyo vs.
MugabeOn March 5-6, in an extraordinary turnaround,
Professor Jonathan Moyo, President Robert Mugabe's energetic information
minister, lauched his parliamentary election campaign as an opponent of
Mugabe. Mugabe recruited Moyo, who had previously worked for the Ford Foundation
in Nairobi and as a lecturer at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg,
in late 1999 to spearhead his parliamentary and presidential election campaigns.
It was Moyo who drafted media legislation, including the Access to Information
and Protection of Privacy Act which was used to close down newspapers and
to arrest and deport scores of journalists. In 2001, Moyo encouraged hundreds
of ZANU PF supporters to parade through the streets of Harare demanding
the closure of the Daily News, the country's only independent daily and
by the far the country's best-selling newspaper of any kind. In 2002
it was silenced for ever when Moyo applied one of the clauses of AIPPA.In the biggest split in ZANU PF since
it came to power at independence in 1980, Mugabe has vowed to destroy his
favourite son, turned "enemy number one". Mugabe considered Moyo indispensable
following the shock when, in 2000, Zimbabwe's electorate rejected
in a referendum a proposed constitution that would have greatly increased
his power, and then nearly toppled his government in a parliamentary election.
The Mugabe-Moyo rift began in November 2004 when Moyo convened a meeting
in his home village of Tsholotsho, 120 kilometres northwest of Bulawayo,
to form a ZANU PF group opposed to Mugabe's decision to make Joyce Mujuru
the first female vice-president of Zimbabwe. In the internal struggle within
ZANU PF, Moyo had lent his weight to the powerful parliamentary speaker
Emmerson Mnangagwa to replace 81-year-old Mugabe whenhe either dies or
retires.Moyo, who owed his seat in parliament
to the president's right to appoint 30 of the 150 members, was incensed
when he was not made the ZANU PF parliamentary candidate in his Tsholotsho
home. In a spectacular move, Moyo declared that he would stand as
an independent candidate against the sitting MDC member of parliament and
the female ZANU PF candidate. Mugabe responded by sacking Moyo from the
cabinet and the 50-member politburo of ZANU PF. Moyo lost his mansion,
his official car, driver and bodyguards. He was also stripped of two farms
and a game lodge that he was given after white farmers were driven from
their land in 2000.Remarkably, Jonathan Moyo was the only
one of a group of those who ran as independents to win a seat.

Supreme Court
Denies 3.5 Million Zimbabweans Abroad From VotingApplicants calling themselves the Diaspora
Vote Action Group say their right to vote has been violated The Zimbabwe
Supreme Court has ruled that the more than 3.5 million Zimbabwean residents
living abroad cannot vote in parliamentary and presidential elections.
Announcing the ruling, Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku dismissed the
application by a group of Zimbabweans living abroad demanding that they
be allowed to vote in the March 31 parliamentary election saying the application
had no merit. The applicants calling themselves the Diaspora Vote Action
Group said their right to vote had been violated when the government said
Zimbabweans outside the country could only cast their ballots in their
constituencies back home.When the group made its application earlier
this year, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa dismissed it saying members
of the group and others were free to come back home and vote. He said the
country's constitution only allows people to vote in their own constituencies.
He also told the state controlled Herald daily newspaper thateven if the
constitution allowed people abroad to vote, officials could not travel
to countries such as Britain and the United States where there is a sizable
Zimbabwean presence because senior members of the government are banned
from entering these countries.Analysts say the government is afraid
that should foreign-based Zimbabweans be allowed to vote, they will tip
the scales in favor of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.

RC Church vs.
ZANU-PF governmentRoman Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube of
Bulawayo called on Zimbabweans to rise against President Robert Mugabe's
government. He however ruled himself out of any leadership role for such
a peaceful “orange revolution” saying that is up to the politicians to
do that and the church can only lend moral support. Archbishop Ncube has
clashed with the government over what he calls its misrule.The spokesman for Zanu-PF Zimbabwe's ruling
party Shamuyarira, Zanu-PF's described the cleric, as "a well known
rabid opponent of the government." Mr. Shamuyarira who was quoted in the
state-controlled accused Archbishop Ncube of being a "mad inveterate
liar." "He however, fits into the scheme of the British and Americans,
who are calling for regime change and are feeding him with these wild ideas,''
Mr. Shamuyarira said. (VOA 28 Mar 2005)

Zimbabwe Opposition
Claims Evidence of Electoral FraudPresident Robert Mugabe's government says
his ruling ZANU-PF party won 78 of the 120 elected seats in Parliament
- nearly double the 41 seats won by the opposition Movement for Democratic
Change. The Movement for Democratic Change, or MDC, held on to almost all
the urban seats it won in 2000, but lost to President Robert Mugabe's ruling
ZANU-PF party in rural areas. MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, however, says
his information indicates the opposition actually won 94 seats.Since the president directly appoints
another 30 members of the 150-seat parliament, the election results give
Mr. Mugabe a two-thirds majority - enough to override any opposition and
amend the constitution.Opposition leaders contend that the government
used violence, intimidation and manipulated Zimbabwe's repressive laws
to rig the vote. The opposition has not specified how a new constitution
should be drawn up or how election laws should be changed, but there are
suggestions that the United Nations should play a role in such reforms.

WCC condemns forced evictions in Zimbabwe

(WCC press release - 27/06/2005) The World
Council of Churches (WCC) on 24 June condemned mass forced evictions in
Zimbabwe and called on the country's government to immediately stop them.In a statement issued by its International
Affairs director's office, the WCC labeled the evictions that have left
hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans homeless as "an operation of segregation
against the working poor"."To carry out such acts of cruelty," the
statement says, "shows clearly that the government is losing the moral
and ethical ground for leadership, healing and reconciliation."The WCC statement affirmed and supported
the recent messages of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) and the Zimbabwe
Catholic Bishops' Conference (ZCBC), which condemned the so-called Operation
Murambatsvina because of the "untold suffering" caused and its "cruel and
inhumane means".While calling on the government to "urgently
address the pressing needs" of the evacuees, the WCC affirmed that "churches
and relief organizations should also be given unrestricted access to the
displaced persons".If Zimbabwe is to be reconciled, rebuilt
and healed, the WCC statement affirms, its government should "dismantle
the restrictions on fundamental freedoms" and initiate dialogue with the
opposition, churches and civil society.Action by Churches Together (ACT) International,
a WCC-related global alliance of churches and related agencies working
to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide, is working
in Zimbabwe.The full text of the WCC statement is
available at:www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/international/zimbabweevictions.html

ZBC on 3306 and harmonic frequency 6612 kHzIn July 2005, international listeners
noted ZBC programmes far outside the short wave bands reserved for sound
broadcasting. ZBC had reactivated their usual frequency 3306 kHz but the
transmitter at Gweru put out a stronger second harmonic frequency of 6612
kHz.The transmitter seems be have been reactivated
on a 24 hour basis as the FM network also runs 24 hour programming. Short
wave specialist in Europe were able to log the station in the night. Unfortunately
for international listeners, the channel transmits in Shona and Ndebele
only.

2005 Government jamming against
second independent short wave stationHaving successfully ruined the finances
of SW Radio Africa, the Zimbabwean government in August 2005 targetted
its Chinese-supplied shortwave jammers to block the transmissions of Voice
of the People (VOP). Their programmes are on the air at 1700-1800 UTC via
the Radio Netherlands Madagascar relay station.From October 2005 Voice
of the People moved to a new frequency, 11705 kHz. This frequency has a
hollow sound from the transmitter on Madagscar but propagates well into
Zimbabwe.

More details announced of Zimbabwe's
planned external servicesOn 10 April 2006, more details have been
announced in the Zimbabwean parliament of the plans to set up a radio and
TV station targeting Zimbabweans abroad. In a report presented to the parliamentary
portfolio on Transport and Communications, New Ziana Chief executive officer
Munyaradzi Matanyaire said George Charamba, President Robert Mugabe's press
secretary had told him that the projects had "support from the highest
level". Former Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation television anchor and
Zanu PF supporter Happison Muchechetere has been appointed to run the stations.Matanyaire said all the equipment for
the radio project was already in place. He said: "The radio programme,
to be on shortwave, and the satellite television will solely target our
people in the diaspora to counter the negative publicity from those countries."
The station will be based in Gweru, but will have separate offices from
the state-run Power FM which targets locals. Matanyaire added that they
would need $152 billion (Zimbabwean) from the treasury to implement the
two projects.(Source: newzimbabwe.com via Radio Netherlands
Media Network 10.4.2006)

In late May 2007, Voice of Zimbabwe started
testing on shortwave. Short wave specialists in the region as well as in
Europe observed music transmissions on the two frequencies announced by
the ZBC, while on the regular channels 3396 and 6045 kHz, Radio Zimbabwe
continued with the usual relay of the FM network. Signal strength was identical,
so the tests were thought to come the facilites at Guineafowl, Gweru, Central
Zimbabwe. The proposed schedule of the Voice of Zimbabwe reads as follows:0530-1630: 59751630-0530: 4828UTC (+2=Zimbabwe time)The station's general manager, Mr Happison
Muchechetere said Voice of Zimbabwe would provide in its programming news,
music, sports, Zimbabwe's cultural heritage, political and economic debates.
The station would cater for all Zimbabweans within the country and abroad
would give the Zimbabwean story as it is.

In September 2007, Zimbabwe's information
minister „encouraged“ the Voice of Zimbabwe "to increase broadcasting hours
from four to 12 hours. He also discussed aspects on how the public can
access shortwave transmission. It was noted that most of the people do
not have shortwave receivers and hence mooted the possibility of importing
these into the country most likely from China. ... Voice of Zimbabwe is
available on shortwave on 5975 kilohertz in the 49-metre band during the
day and on 4828 kilohertz in the 60-metre band at night. It broadcasts
from 6 pm to 10 pm [16.00-20.00] and plays music throughout the remaining
hours." <http://allafrica.com/stories/200709290095.html> (The Herald
(Harare), 29 September 2007 viakimandrewelliott.com and Glenn Hauser
DXLD)

No Sign of Promised Media Relaxation
Revised law allows media free rein to cover March 2008 elections, but
it seem policies will remain as restrictive as ever.
By Yamikani Mwando in Bulawayo
Recent legislative changes easing the stringent restrictions on the
media in Zimbabwe have yet to make any real impact as the country heads
for next month’s crucial elections.
In mid-January, amendments to the controversial Access to Information
and Protection of Privacy Act, known as AIPPA, came into effect, in what
was seen as a major concession achieved in the ongoing talks with the opposition
Movement for Democratic Change, MDC. Together with changes to other restrictive
laws - the Public Order and Security Act and the Broadcasting Services
Act - and amendments to electoral legislation, the bill was approved by
President Robert Mugabe after having been rushed through parliament in
December with the assent of both the MDC and the ruling ZANU-PF. The legal
changes came out of the negotiations between the two parties which are
being mediated by President Mugabe on behalf of the Southern African Development
Community.
AIPPA was introduced in 2001, as the Zimbabwean media were becoming
sharply polarised between state-controlled public outlets on the one hand,
and the small but vibrant privately-owned newspapers on the other. The
authorities accused the private media of demonising the regime and of working
as an extension of opposition political parties. Under the amended AIPPA,
foreign journalists will be allowed into the country and will have the
right to accreditation for up to 60 days. Local journalists, meanwhile,
will be able to work without first registering with the official Media
and Information Commission, MIC - soon to be reconstituted as the Zimbabwe
Media Commission as part of the changes to the law.
If the authorities stick to the spirit and letter of these legislative
changes, foreign media will be able to cover the March presidential, parliamentary
and local elections to an extent unprecedented in recent years. This would
be a significant change, coming at a time when concern has been expressed
that the crucial vote could take place far from international scrutiny
as President Mugabe seeks to extend his hold on power.
However, it is already looking doubtful that the authorities will abide
by their own rules. Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu recently
confounded the hopes of Bulawayo journalists by telling them that those
media organisations deemed “hostile” would still not be allowed to cover
the polls. The BBC, in particular, has been singled out for exclusion from
Zimbabwe on the grounds that its longstanding mission is to “peddle falsehoods”
about the Mugabe regime. Ndlovu’s remarks came after BBC journalist
John Simpson entered the country covertly last month to file reports on
the Zimbabwean crisis, inviting acerbic reactions from the Information
and Publicity Ministry.
No information has been forthcoming on the number, identity or countries
of origin of foreign journalists who might be allowed in as part of the
legislative change, but for now it is looking highly unlikely that the
regime will permit western reporters to cover the March ballot. Zimbabwean
journalists have told IWPR that a media blackout will merely feed accusations
that the elections lack all credibility, and that the authorities pre-empting
the possibility of critical reporting in the event of the kind of political
violence and electoral irregularities that have marred past ballots.
The restructuring of the regulatory authority MIC into the Zimbabwe
Media Commission has been hailed as part of a possible plan to grant licences
to banned media outlets, and perhaps to some new players as well. Yet a
number of newspapers remain outlawed as the poll nears. The Daily News,
once the country’s biggest selling daily, has been closed since September
2003, following its allegations that ZANU-PF supporters committed human
rights abuses during the run-up to elections in 2000 and 2002. This naturally
riled the regime, which accused the paper of being an opposition mouthpiece.
At the height of the campaign against it, the paper’s printing press was
bombed. The newspaper bounced back, but was finally banned when it refused
to register with the MIC. The Daily News and its Sunday sister-paper have
now been asked to apply for a licence, and their publisher, Associated
Newspapers of Zimbabwe, submitted a formal application to the MIC on February
14.
MIC official Godfrey Chinondidyachii Mararike has said the outcome
of the application will only come in 30 days’ time – which would mean The
Daily News could at best acquire the right to publish just two weeks before
the March 29 vote. At the same time, the Commission reportedly met on February
17 to hold preliminary discussions on the application, suggesting that
it might be prepared to fast-track this as a special case. Media
industry insiders are deeply sceptical about whether the
government is sincere about granting the paper a licence in time for
it to make any difference.
Former Daily News editor Geoff Nyarota recently wrote on his news website
that “those who believe that Mugabe will allow the resurrection of The
Daily News in time to play a meaningful role ahead of the March elections
simply do not understand the dynamics of dictatorship.” He concluded,
“At this rate, by the time The Daily News is restored back to its original
status, Mugabe will be ready to retire voluntarily after winning the forthcoming
landmark elections by hook or by crook.”
A representative of the Media Monitoring Project, an independent watchdog
group in Zimbabwe, said the credibility of any election depended not only
on the existence of “a level playing field” for all political parties,
but also - and even more importantly - on voters and election observers
being allowed unfettered access to the media. “It is crucial that we have
enough media coverage in the run-up to the poll,” said the representative,
who asked not to be named, “but it is still very unlikely the authorities
will accept any applications from local private papers for registration
and [allow in] foreign correspondents before the election.”
Yamikani Mwando is an IWPR contributor in Bulawayo.
The Institute for War & Peace Reporting
IWPR's AFRICA REPORTS No. 157 Part 2, February 21, 2008

Mugabe’s Post-Election Media Blitz

Zimbabwean leader appears desperate to shore up support at home in the
face of mounting criticism abroad.

By Hativagone Mushonga in Harare

In the face of growing condemnation from the international community,
President Robert Mugabe is appealing to the Zimbabwean public for support
as he battles for legitimacy. In what amounts to an after-the-fact election
campaign, the state-owned media have gone into overdrive to try to salvage
Mugabe’s battered image after the second-round presidential election held
on June 27.

The run-up to the ballot was one of the most violent election periods
the country has seen, with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change,
MDC, saying 113 of its supporters were killed and thousands of others beaten,
tortured and displaced.

The election had been conceived as a run-off between Mugabe and the
MDC candidate Morgan Tsvangirai – who won more votes than the incumbent
in the first round on March 29, but according to the official returns,
not the majority required to be elected outright. However, Mugabe ended
up as the sole candidate when his rival withdrew from the contest, citing
fears that more MDC supporters would suffer acts of violence.

Advertisements now being aired on public radio every 20 minutes or so
feature Mugabe thanking the nation for voting for him and for their “faith
and confidence” in him. “I feel honoured and humbled,” he says. “Our challenge
today and in the years ahead is to move forward in unity, regardless of
our diverse political affiliations, united by the sense of a common vision
and destiny for a prosperous Zimbabwe.”
Full-page advertisements in state-run newspapers feature a younger-looking,
smiling Mugabe, saying, “The people of Zimbabwe have spoken. Let us therefore
continue rebuilding our nation. Thank you for rejecting recolonisation
of our precious Zimbabwe by the western powers. I know you believe and
I believe that all good things are possible. God bless Zimbabwe. Thank
you for voting for me – thank you for voting in peace.” The advertisements
portray Mugabe as the champion of the Zimbabwean people, someone who has
fought relentlessly for their sovereignty and has once again won a mandate
to govern them.
However, despite this media blitz, observers say Zimbabweans will not
easily forgive the president for masterminding the bloodletting in the
run-up to the polls, or for the humiliation he inflicted on the electorate.
A veteran Zimbabwean journalist, who requested anonymity, told IWPR
that Mugabe appeared desperate to win the legitimacy the international
community, including some former allies in Africa, have refused him after
what is widely seen as a sham election. “The main aim of the advert is
to prop up and polish Mugabe’s image. He seems desperate for acceptance
from Zimbabweans and for them to recognise him as the legitimate president.
This is the first time Mugabe has shown himself so desperate for public
support,” said the journalist.
Aside from the violence, the prospect of continuing hardship is a major
concern for the electorate. With no resolution to the political crisis
in sight, the government looks unlikely to find any way out of the country’s
deep-set economic problems.
Alex Mukaka, who comes from the southern province of Masvingo but is
currently in the capital Harare recovering from wounds he sustained during
the violence, said people in the countryside would never again fully accept
Mugabe because of the violence perpetrated by his security forces and youth
militias. “We were stripped of our dignity during the run-up to the election
and also on election day itself. We were driven like beasts into torture
bases every day. We spent whole nights in the mountains where we were intimidated
and humiliated by mere youths who were not born at the time of the [1970s]
liberation war. On voting day, we were herded like sheep into the polling
booths where we voted against our will,” he said. “We are people who think
to be treated like animals was very insulting.”
The president’s desire for public approval comes against a backdrop
of crumbling support from African leaders formerly sympathetic to
his robust defiance of external criticism. That includes countries in the
immediate neighbourhood, which are members of the Southern African Development
Community, SADC. One of these, Botswana, has refused to accept the results
of the election, and is urging its neighbours not to recognise Mugabe as
president and to suspend Zimbabwe from both the SADC and the African Union.
“As a country that practises democracy and the rule of law, Botswana does
not... recognise the outcome of the presidential run-off election, and
would expect other SADC member states to do the same," Foreign Minister
Phandu Sekelemani said on July 4. The Zimbabwean authorities, he said,
should not be allowed to participate in SADC meetings “until such time
as they demonstrate their commitment to strictly adhere to the organisation's
principles”.